Have you seen the American Express commercial with the founder of Patagonia? He says something dear to my heart, to do good you have to actually do something. I think we are missing something in our society: doers. People who risk a little personal comfort to get involved. People who see a problem and work to fix it. People who want to stop talking and start working.
I just finished reading "Bright-Sided, How Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America" by Barbara Ehrenreich and walked away from it feeling empowered to think critically, be active, and get engaged with life.
We have so many people telling us that we can think our way into wealth, health and happiness; preachers, new age writers, and business leaders. The problem with this idea is that without action those thoughts are just thoughts. We aren't making anything happen.
I don't want to be a downer, I have definitely been called a cheerleader, but I am also a realist - life needs proactive solutions not just daydreaming. And, honey, no one is going to do it for you.
Lately here are some of the things that I am thinking about - a mentoring program for teenagers in rural areas led by strong women, the pollution that occurs in Leatherwood Creek which runs right through my property and could be effecting my water and is definitely effecting the water downstream, a rural based venture capital program or seed started fund for small businesses, and opening my home to share food on a regular basis with friends (we don't entertain and I think we should). Can I fix all of those things? I don't know, but I might be able to start the process and see where it leads me.
Barbara Ehrenreich closes the book, which despite it's title isn't depressing, with the charge to make things happen and have fun doing it. I agree with her - let's be a nation of doers not a nation of dreamers! What are you doing?
